The morning sunlight illuminated the entirety of the massive Han Estate. Despite the early hours, servants were already bustling throughout the hallways, fixated on their daily tasks.
In the courtyard, a tea table was set beside a pond filled with koi. Shaded under a tree, Xianru sat before the table. She wore a simple white robe with blue trims, making her demeanor deceptively gentle.
She has her eyes closed, listening as a middled-aged man stood before her, reading aloud some numbers from a scroll. Meanwhile, a maid carefully refilled her cup of tea.
"...and that's all the profit from the eastern mines. That's 15% less than last month. The Feng Consortium continues to snatch our partners and at this rate, by next year, not just the eastern mines, maybe even the western mines might slip out of our hands." The man rolled up the scroll, a frown on his face.
Xianru didn't respond immediately, simply opening her eyes and staring at the swirling liquid within her teacup.
"As expected, there's only one way to deal with the Feng." She began, collected. "Have you done what I asked you last week?"
The man paused for a moment, before nodding. "I have. We've confirmed that there is indeed a shipment from the Feng passing by the northern roads tonight. Our informants have verified that they're supplies for the soldiers they sent to harass our men in the eastern mines."
"How guarded are they?" Xianru asked, taking a sip of her tea.
"Very. Reports estimate at least ten earthbenders, ten firebenders, and twenty mercenaries. There could be more hidden in the shadows."
"I see." Xianru nodded, face devoid of any emotion. "Thank you, Mr. Mihe."
"My life belongs to the Han family." The man, Mihe, bowed and stepped back.
The morning breeze sent the leaves of the tree above fluttering. Xianru's long, black hair danced in the wind, as if an ethereal fairy. The koi in the pond swam through the clear spring water, the surface stirring.
"Now then," Xianru began. "can you deal with that, Ren?"
Tsk.
Leaning on the tree trunk at the back, Ren clicked his tongue. His hair was messy, scratch marks visible on the sides of his neck. He was given a different outfit this morning, the servant telling him that the mistress ordered him to change and to meet her in the courtyard.
They dressed him in a short, earth-brown cross-collared robe that fell just above his knees, layered over fitted trousers and bound at the waist with a dark sash. The fabric was high-quality, but plain. It's a practical choice, suitable for a variety of tasks.
Nevertheless, Ren couldn't find any sort of satisfaction within him about it. He barely slept last night. An unusual pallor adorned his face which reminded him of his previous life as an engineering undergrad.
He subconsciously touched his chest, the dull choking sensation still clearly within. Every time he thought he could forget about the sensation for a little while, it would throb. It wasn't painful, but it did remind him of his current circumstance—which dealt significant damage to his mental state.
"Ren," Xianru's voice cut through his thoughts, her usually elegant tone having a slight edge to it this time. "I asked you a question."
Ren's eyebrow twitched.
"Easily." He responded, crossing his arms.
Xianru tilted her head to flash him a glance, a faint trace of amusement visible within her eyes.
Ren felt uncomfortable from that. There's something weird about her, as if she can see something else within you that no one else, not even yourself, can. It wasn't the time to be scared, however.
He met her gaze, dark circles framing his tired but steadfast eyes.
After a short staring contest, Xianru smiled and broke her gaze off.
"Good. Mr. Mihe will brief you on what to do."
Ren turned his eyes at the middle-aged man standing nearby.
"Mr. Mihe, please." Xianru nodded at the man.
"Yes, young lady." Mr. Mihe bowed sternly before turning towards Ren with the same expression.
"Follow me," the man said before walking away. Ren hesitated for a moment before following suit.
***
Simply following the stern man in front of him, Ren found himself in a large room adorned with shelves upon shelves of documents around the walls. In the middle of the room sat a rectangular table, a detailed map pinned on top with small flags with labels stuck on several areas.
It felt like a war room. But then, with what he gathered from eavesdropping around, the conflict between the Han and the Feng might as well be a war.
"Mr. Ren," the man suddenly spoke, startling Ren who was distracted while staring at the map in the middle of the room. "I will now explain to you the current situation between the Han Family and the Feng Consortium."
Ren simply stood, watching as Mr. Mihe went ahead and stood on the other side of the table, opposite him.
"The Young Miss might've told you about it already, but it all began two years ago when the Han family discovered a metal mine in the eastern part of the region. We immediately went in and began mining it. The reserves were massive and we were able to secure a contract with the Earth Kingdom army."
"I'm aware," said Ren.
"Unfortunately, the family head was then assassinated. Half a year after the deal with the Earth Kingdom army was secured, an assassin had killed the Young Miss' father during a trip to nearby town. Until now, we haven't gotten closure regarding the motive and the culprit, but we have reasons to believe it was the Feng Consortium who was gradually being drove off due to the Han family's sudden rise."
"And..." Mr. Mihe hesitated, a slight frown appearing on his usually stone-cold face.
Ren raised an eyebrow at this.
"Personally, I have suspicions that the Fire Nation is somehow behind this too."
Ren paid more attention.
"How so?"
"Not the entirety of the Fire Nation but..." Mr. Mihe began, his voice lower in volume. "Mr. Yao was ennobled for his services in the army."
Ren raised an eyebrow. Who?
"The Young Miss' father. He used to serve in the Fire Nation army. He was deployed in the northwest coast of the Earth Kingdom for several years, where he amassed enough contribution to earn himself a nobility title." Mr. Mihe repllied.
"He already had plans then to settle in this area and find success as a merchant. It was then that he met the Young Miss' mother, the sole daughter of an average merchant family that have lived here for generations. They fell in love, and due to the birth of Young Miss, inherited the merchant family. Mr. Yao then took the surname Han and through his connections created during his time at the army, raised the family to great heights," he continued.
"That doesn't really explain anything," asked Ren. "I don't see how the Fire Nation would be interested in assassinating the head of a merchant family in a Fire Nation-controlled settlement."
"It would be so, but..." Mr. Mihe mulled on his words a bit. "Mr. Yao already had a family in the Fire Nation before he left. He was married to a high-ranking noble mistress and even had a son."
"And they want him dead? Revenge?"
"That precisely is my guess. Fire Nation as a whole is sensitive about their pride and honour. Mr. Yao had inadvertently dishonoured his wife when he left the Fire Nation. I could only imagine how furious she, along with her family, must be." Mr. Mihe answered.
"And they're not just satisfied with his death. They want to bring down the fruits of his effort. Which is why they're secretly working with the Feng, the Han family's rival, to bring them down and pay back the dishonour he'd caused." Ren finished.
"That is the conclusion that I have came up with." Mr. Mihe nodded.
Ren ruffled his already messy hair.
"I'm just here to do what your Young Miss ordered. I won't bother with the nuances of it all." He said.
Mr. Mihe looked at him for a moment, then slightly bowed.
"I understand. Here is the map of the route that the convoy will be taking tonight." He handed Ren a small scroll. Unfurling it revealed a rough map of a rocky terrain, near a river. A small, unkempt path slithered through the unfriendly landscape.
"Do you need survivors?" Ren asked, folding the map and putting it in his breast pocket.
"None."
"Good. I'm not in the mood for leaving any."
***
The moonlight illuminated the dense forest below.
Away from the bustling nightlife of Seedy Merchants Pier, the forest at the northern part of the settlement remained silent and still. Or so it would seem, save for a line of lamps and torches flickering through the vegetation.
"We're about half an hour away from the location. Keep moving." Announced a bulky man, walking at the front.
Following behind him is a convoy of three carriages pulled by ostrich horses. Stationed around them are several armed mercenaries, slouched and looking lazy at the surface, although their eyes would pierce through the darkness of the vegetation and scan for anomalies.
So far, there have been none.
At the front, just behind the bulky man, are five earthbenders, garbed in a dark green uniform. The golden insignia of the Feng Consortium is at their chest and back. Walking right beside the three carriages are ten firebenders, although they are also dressed in the same uniforms as the earthbenders. The remaining five earthbenders are stationed at the very back, protecting the rear of the convoy.
Just then, a man emerged from the darkness of the trees. He wore dark clothing, making him appear even more invisible in the dark. Seeing him, the bulky man at the front stopped, and so did the rest of the convoy.
"Sir, report." The man, a scout, came up to the bulky man and spoke.
"What is it?"
"We found a person just up front, seemingly waiting for something." The scout began.
The bulky man fully turned to him.
"Armed?" he asked.
"He doesn't appear to be. Doesn't have anything on his clothing that could signify where he's from." The scout answered.
The bulky man hummed in thought, turning back to look at the convoy behind him. He was paid handsomely to ensure that the supplies will arrive safely at their destination. He couldn't afford to have volatile variables in this task.
"Kill him. Leave no trace behind." He turned back to the scout and ordered.
"Understood, sir. I'll ask the arch—"
"..elp!" A faint shout reached them through the dark path in front.
The bulky man frowned, and the scout drew the bow on his back and nocked an arrow, aiming it in front.
The convoy responded similarly, the earthbenders spreading out in a circle around the carriages. The firebenders did the same. The mercenaries formed a line in front of the earthbenders, acting as the first line of defense."
"HELP!" The shout had gotten clearer. And nearer.
The bulky man gestured to a firebender, who nodded and sent a fist of flame forwards into the dark path ahead. Through the darkness emerged a man, wearing the same clothing as the scout, holding his right arm, blood dripping down from his body and leaving a crimson trail behind.
As the injured scout saw them, light seemed to appear on his eyes.
"HE—"
Before a rocky spear emerged through his left eye.
The scout fell down like a ragdoll, relief still on his face.
"Everyone! Prepare!" The bulky man yelled, drawing the massive steel warhammer from his back.
The firebenders formed a line in front of him and sent a volley of flames forward into the dark path.
An earth wall emerged from the ground and blocked the flames.
Seeing this, the bulky man charged forward, raised his hammer, and smashed down on the wall.
The wall instantly collapsed, revealing the view behind.
Nothing.
"Look out!"
A scream from behind made him turn.
One of the firebenders was impaled by another earth spear through the face., The spear seemed to have come from the left side of the convoy.
Before the bulky man can say something, three more firebenders dropped dead, all impaled through the face by rocky spears.
"Earthbenders! You bend rock! Do something about it!" He yelled, spit flying. He's getting frustrated now.
"Firebenders, provide light! Stop fucking dying!" He followed.
The remaining firebenders started flinging fire balls around in random directions around them. Some vegetation caught on fire, but that's the least of their worries right now.
And, through the brief illumination provided by the projectiles, he managed to get a glimpse of their enemy.
It was one man.
Standing still, looking right at him.
"There! Attack!" He ordered, charging at where he saw the man.
He hefted his warhammer overhead and slammed it down on the faint silhouette of the man.
The hammer hit nothing but ground, cracking the earth and sending dust flying.
"Damn it!" He looked around.
The firebenders' reckless flinging of fire balls had lit a good chunk of the surroundings on fire, giving them more illumination and vision of the area.
Yet even so, they couldn't see the enemy. It was as if they're fighting a ghost.
A malevolent ghost.
"He's here! Behi—ARGHH—" A scream was cut off from the backline.
He looked back, and saw one of the mercenaries get eaten by the ground. Literally. His body sank underground and then there was silence. The ground melded back as if nothing happened at all.
"Earthbenders! Fucking make yourself useful!" He yelled, veins popping on his temple.
"We can't! We can't see him!" One of the earthbenders, shaking in his place, responded. Tears welled in his eyes. "It's impossible!"
That became his last words, as an earth spear tore through the air and through his face, pinning his corpse against the carriage.
The earthbenders around him scattered, terrified.
And honestly, he couldn't blame them. He's gradually becoming scared of whatever this is that they're up against.
A bender? A ghost? A spirit?
"It's the fucking devil." He muttered through shaky breaths.